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1877 
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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 


STANDING RULES 


CONDUCTING BUSINESS 

IN THE 


SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 


REPORTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES. 


January 17, 1877.—Adopted by the Senate. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1877 . 


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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



CONDUCTING BUSINESS 


IN THE 


SENATE OE THE UNITED STATES. 


REPORTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES. 


January 17,1877.—Adopted by the Senate. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1877 . 






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V 


STANDING RULES FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE SENATE 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 


RULES. 


DAILY SESSIONS. 


QUORUM—HEADING THE JOURNAL. 

1. The Presiding Officer having taken the chair, and a quorum 
(which shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly chosen and sworn) 
being present, the Journal of the preceding day shall then be read, and 
any mistake made in the entries may be corrected. The reading of 
the Journal shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent$ and 
when any motion shall be made to amend or correct the same, it shall 
be deemed a privileged question, and proceeded with until disposed of 
by the Senate. 


QUORUM—WHEN NOT PRESENT. 

2. If either at the commencement of any daily session of the Senate, 
or at any time during its daily sessions, a question shall be raised by 
any Senator as to the presence of a quorum, the Presiding Officer shall 
forthwith direct the Secretary to call the roll of Senators, and shall 
announce the result to the Senate; and these proceedings shall be with¬ 
out debate. 


QUORUM—ABSENT SENATORS SENT FOR. 

3. No Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate 
without leave of the Senate first obtained. Whenever it shall be ascer¬ 
tained that a quorum is not present, a majority of the Senators present 
may direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to request, and, when necessary, to 
compel the attendance of the absent Senators, which order shall be de¬ 
termined without debate; and, pending its execution, and until a quo¬ 
rum shall be present, no motion, except a motion to adjourn, nor debate, 
shall be in order. 





4 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE TO BE CHOSEN. 

4. In the absence of the Vice-President, the Senate shall choose a 
President pro tempore, and the Presiding Officer shall have the right to 
name a Senator to perform the duties of the Chair, but such substitu¬ 
tion shall not extend beyond an adjournment. 

JOURNAL—MAKING UP. 

The proceedings of the Senate shall, briefly and accurately, be 
stated on the Journal. Messages of the President, in full; titles of bills 
and joint resolutions, and such parts as shall be affected by proposed 
amendments; every vote, and a brief statement of the contents of each 
petition, memorial, or paper presented to the Senate, shall be entered. 

JOURNALS—SEPARATE, TO BE KEPT. 

(5. The legislative proceedings; the executive proceedings; the con¬ 
fidential legislative proceedings, and the proceedings when sitting as a 
Court of Impeachment, of the Senate, shall each be recorded in a sepa¬ 
rate book. 


PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS. 


7. The presentation of the credentials of Senators-elect and other 
questions of privilege shall always be in order, except during the read¬ 
ing and correction of the Journal, while a question of order or a motion 
to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is dividing; and all questions 
and motions arising or made upon the presentation of such credentials 
shall be proceeded with until disposed of by the Senate. 


ORDER OF BUSINESS. 


ORDER OF BUSINESS—MORNING HOUR. 

8. The first hour of daily sessions shall be designated as the morning 
hour, during which the order of business shall be as follows: 

First After the Journal is read, the Presiding Officer shall lay before 
the Senate messages from the President, reports and communications 
from the heads of Departments, and other communications addressed to 
the Senate; and such bills, joint resolutions, and other messages from 
the House of Representatives as may remain upon his table from any 
previous day’s session undisposed of. 






STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


5 


Second. The Presiding Officer shall then call for, in the following 
order: 

The presentation of petitions and memorials. 

Reports of the standing and select committees. 

The introduction of bills and joint resolutions. 

Concurrent and other resolutions. 

Until the business of the morning hour shall have been concluded 
and so announced from the Chair, no motion to proceed to the consid¬ 
eration of any bill, resolution, report of a committee, or other subject 
upon the calendar shall be entertained by the Chair, unless by unani¬ 
mous consent; and if such consent be given, the motion shall not be 
open to amendment, and shall be decided without debate upon the merits 
of the subject proposed to be taken up ; nor shall the consideration of 
any subject taken up during the morning hour, except a motion to 
amend the Journal or a motion pertaining to the credentials of a Sen¬ 
ator-elect or his admission to his seat, be extended, unless by unanimous 
consent, beyond the expiration of the morning hour. 

If any portion of the morning hour shall remain after the call for 
resolutions, the Presiding Officer shall lay before the Senate, in their 
order, resolutions and concurrent resolutions introduced on any prior 
day, and the same may be proceeded with, but not beyond the expi¬ 
ration of the morning hour, unless by the unanimous consent of the 
Senate. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS—UNFINISHED BUSINESS. 

9. Immediately upon the expiration of the morning hour, the Presid¬ 
ing Officer shall lay before the Senate the unfinished business at its last 
adjournment, which shall take precedence of the Special Orders, and 
shall be proceeded with until disposed of by the Senate. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS—SPECIAL ORDERS. 

10. Any subject or matter may, by a vote of two-thirds of the Sen¬ 
ators present, be made a special order; and when the hour fixed for the 
consideration of a special order shall arrive, it shall be the duty of the 
Presiding Officer to lay such special order before the Senate, unless 
there be unfinished business of the preceding day, in which case the 
unfinished business shall have precedence. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS—PRECEDENCE IN SPECIAL ORDERS. 

11. When two or more subjects shall have been made special orders 
for the same day and hour, they shall have precedence according to the 
order of time at which they severally were assigned ; which order shall 
not be changed, unless by direction of the Senate. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS—SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY. 

IS. Every special order shall, unless superseded by the unfinished 
business, be called up on the day and at the hour to which it was as- 


6 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


signed; and, if not finally disposed of on that day, it shall then take its 
place upon the Calendar of Special Orders in the order of time at which 
it was made a special order, unless it shall become by adjournment the 
unfinished business. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS—CALENDAR OF GENERAL ORDERS. 

13. At the expiration of the morning hour, if there shall be neither 
unfinished business nor special order, the Senate shall proceed with the 
Calendar of General Orders, unless it shall otherwise determine; and 
the subjects upon the Calendar of General Orders shall be taken up in 
the order in which they stand, and, if not finally disposed of, shall re¬ 
tain their respective positions on said Calendar until such final disposi¬ 
tion. And in all cases where the Senate shall take up the Calendar of 
General Orders, and shall not have gone through therewith when the 
same shall be resumed, it shall be at the point which was reached when 
last under consideration. 


PETITIONS. 


14. Before any petition or memorial shall be received or read at the 
table, it shall be signed by the petitioner or memorialist, and a brief 
statement of its contents shall be made by the Senator or Presiding 
Officer presenting it. But no petition or memorial or other paper signed 
by citizens or subjects of a foreign power, unless the same be transmitted 
to the Senate by the President, shall be received. 

Every petition or memorial shall be referred of course, without putting 
the question, unless objection be made by a Senator; in which case all 
motions for the reception or reference of such petition, memorial, or 
other paper shall be put in the order in which the same shall be made, 
and shall not be open to amendment, except to add instructions; but a 
motion to refer to a standing committee shall take precedence of a mo¬ 
tion to refer to a select committee. 


READINGS PAPERS. 


1 <5. W hen the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is objected 
to by any Senator, it shall be determined by a vote of the Senate, and 
without debate. 






STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


7 


VOTING. 


VOTING—CALLING YEAS AND NAYS. 

16. When the yeas and nays shall be called for by one-fifth of the 
Senators present, each Senator, when his name is called, shall, unless 
for special reasons he be excused by the Senate, declare openly and 
without debate his assent or dissent to the question ; and in taking the 
yeas and nays upon any question, the names of the Senators shall be 
called alphabetically. 

VOTING—ASSIGNING REASONS FOR NOT VOTING. 

17. When a Senator, being present and declining to vote when his 
name is called, shall be required to assign his reasons therefor, and 
shall so assign them, the Presiding Officer shall thereupon submit the 
question to the Senate: “ Shall the Senator, for the reasons assigned 
by him, be excused from voting?’ 7 which shall be decided without 
debate. And these proceedings shall be had after the roll shall have 
been called and before the result of the vote is announced; and any 
further proceedings by the Senate in reference thereto shall be after 
such announcement. 

VOTING—AFTER DECISION ANNOUNCED. 

18. When the yeas and nays shall be taken upon any question, no 
Senator shall, under any circumstances whatever, be permitted to vote 
after the decision shall have been announced from the Chair ; but a 
Senator may, for special reasons assigned by him, with the unanimous 
consent of the Senate, change or withdraw his vote after such announce¬ 
ment. No motion to suspend this rule shall be in order. 

VOTING—VICE-PRESIDENT MAY GIVE CASTING VOTE. 

19 . When the Senate shall be equally divided, the Vice-President 
may, by his vote, determine the question. 

VOTING—RECONSIDERATION. 

• 26 . When a question has once been decided by a vote of the Senate, 
whether that vote be determined by a majority or by two-thirds of the 
Senate, any Senator voting on that side which prevailed may enter a 
motion or move for a reconsideration thereof, at any time on the same 
day on which the vote was taken, or on either of the next two days of 
actual session thereafter; and all motions to reconsider shall be decided 
by a majority of the Senate. 

When a bill, resolution, report, amendment, order, or message, upon 



8 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


which a vote has been taken, shall have gone out of the possession of 
the Senate and been communicated to the House of Representatives, 
the motion to reconsider such vote shall be accompanied by a motion to 
request the House to return the same to the Senate; which last motion 
shall be acted upon immediately, and determined without debate, and, 
when determined in the negative, shall be held to be a final disposition 
of the motion to reconsider. 

VOTING—RECONSIDERATION, HOW LIMITED. 

21 . If the Senate shall refuse to reconsider a vote, or if, upon the 
reconsideration of a vote, it shall re-affirm its first decision of the 
question, no further motion to reconsider shall be in order, unless by 
unanimous consent. And every motion to reconsider a vote taken upon 
any amendment or other question connected with a subject under con¬ 
sideration shall be decided at once, and a motion to reconsider may be 
laid on the table without affecting the question in reference to which 
the same may be made. And if carried, shall be held to be a final, dis¬ 
position of such motion. 


BILLS. 

4 


BILLS—NOTICE GIVEN FOR LEAVE TO BRING IN. 

22. One day’s notice, at least, shall be given of an intended motion 
for leave to bring in a bill or joint resolution ; but in the introduction 
of bills or joint resolutions on leave, such notice may be dispensed with, 
by unanimous consent. 

BILLS—THREE READINGS ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS. 

23 . Every bill and joint resolution shall receive three readings pre¬ 
vious to its being passed; and the Presiding Officer shall give notice at 
each reading whether it be the first, second, or third; which readings 
shall be on three different days, unless the Senate unanimously direct 
otherwise. 

BILLS—FIRST AND SECOND READINGS FOR REFERENCE. 

24 . No bill or joint resolution shall be committed or amended until it 
shall have been read twice; bills and joint resolutions introduced on leave, 
and bills and joint resolutions from the House of Representatives, shall 
be read once, and may be read twice, on the same day, if not objected to, 
for reference; but shall not be considered on that day, as in Committee of 
the Whole, nor debated, except for such reference, unless by unanimous 
consent. 




STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE 


9 


BILLS—PLACED ON CALENDAR. 

23. Every bill and joint resolution reported from a committee, not 
having previously been read, shall be read once, and twice, if not ob¬ 
jected to, on the same day, and be placed on the Calendar in the order 
in which the same may be reported; and every bill and joint resolution 
introduced on leave, and every bill and joint resolution of the House 
of Eepresentatives which shall have received a first and second reading 
without being referred to a committee, shall, if objection be made to 
further proceeding thereon, also be placed on the Calendar. 

BILLS—COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. 

20. All bills and joint resolutions which shall have received two 
readings shall first be considered by the Senate in the same manner as 
if the Senate were in Committee of the Whole, after which they shall 
be reported to the Senate; and any amendments made in Committee of 
the Whole shall again be considered by the Senate, after which further 
amendments may be proposed. When a bill or resolution shall have 
been ordered to be read a third time, it shall not be in order to propose 
amendments, unless by unanimous consent, but it shall at all times be 
in order, before the final passage of any bill or resolution, to move its 
commitment; and when the bill or resolution shall again be reported from 
the committee, it shall be placed on the Calendar, and when again con¬ 
sidered by the Senate, it shall be as in Committee of the Whole. 


AMENDMENTS. 


AMENDMENTS—GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILLS. 

27. All general appropriation bills shall be referred to the Commit¬ 
tee on Appropriations, except bills making appropriations for rivers and 
harbors, which shall be referred to the Committee on Commerce; and 
no amendments shall be received to any general appropriation bill, the 
effect of which will be to increase an appropriation already contained in 
the bill, or to add a new item of appropriation, unless it be made to 
carry out the provisions of some existing law, or treaty stipulation, or 
act, or resolution previously passed by the Senate during that session ; 
or unless the same be moved by direction of a standing or select com¬ 
mittee of the Senate; or proposed in pursuance of an estimate of the 
head of some one of the Departments. 

AMENDMENTS—REFERRED ONE DAY BEFORE PROPOSED. 

28. All amendments to general appropriation bills moved by direc¬ 
tion of a standing or select committee of the Senate, proposing to in- 




10 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


crease an appropriation already contained in the bill, or to add new 
items of appropriation, shall, at least one day before they are offered, 
be referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and when actually 
proposed to the bill, no amendment proposing to increase the amount 
stated in such amendment shall be received ; in like manner, amend¬ 
ments proposing new items of appropriation to river and harbor bills 
shall, before being offered, be referred to the Committee on Commerce ; 
also amendments to bills establishing post-roads, proposing new post¬ 
roads, shall, before being offered, be referred to the Committee on Post- 
Offices and Post-Eoads. 

AMENDMENTS—GENERAL LEGISLATION; RELEVANCY; MAY BE LAID 

ON THE TABLE. 

29. No amendment which proposes general legislation shall be re¬ 
ceived to any general appropriation bill; nor shall any amendment not 
germane or relevant to the subject-matter contained in the bill be re¬ 
ceived ; nor shall any amendment to any item or clause of such bill be 
received which does not directly relate thereto; and all questions of 
relevancy of amendments under this rule, when raised, shall be submit¬ 
ted to the Senate and be decided without debate; and any amendment 
to a general appropriation bill may be laid on the table without preju¬ 
dice to the bill. 

AMENDMENTS—PRIVATE CLAIMS. 

30. No amendment, the object of which is to provide for a private 
claim, shall be received to any general appropriation bill, unless it be 
to carry out the provisions of an existing law or a treaty stipulation, 
which shall be cited on the face of the^ amendment. 

AMENDMENTS—DIVISION OF A QUESTION. 

31. If the question in debate contain several propositions, any Sen¬ 
ator may have the same divided, except a motion to strike out and 
insert, which shall not be divided; but the rejection of a motion to 
strike out and insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to 
strike out and insert a different proposition; nor shall it prevent a 
motion simply to strike out; nor shall the rejection of a motion to strike 
out prevent a motion to strike out and insert. But pending a motion 
to strike out and insert, the part to be stricken out and the part to be 
inserted shall each be regarded for the purpose of amendment as a 
question; and motions to amend the part to be stricken out shall have 
precedence. 

AMENDMENTS—FILLING BLANKS. 

32. In filling blanks the largest sum and the longest time shall first 
be put. 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


11 


RESOLUTIONS. 


RESOLUTIONS—SHALL LIE OYER ONE DAY. 

33. All resolutions shall lie over one day for consideration, unless by 
unanimous consent the Senate shall otherwise direct. 

RESOLUTIONS—TREATED AS BILLS. 

34. Eesolutions to which the approbation and signature of the Pres¬ 
ident may be requisite, or which may grant money out of the contingent 
or any other fund, shall be treated in all respects in their introduction 
and form of proceeding in like manner with bills. 

RESOLUTIONS—PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 

35. Eesolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution shall be 
treated in all respects, in their introduction and form of proceeding, in 
like manner with bills,* but the concurrence of two-thirds of the Sen¬ 
ators present shall not be requisite to decide any question on amend¬ 
ments, nor extending to the merits, being short of the final question on 
the passage of the resolution, except a motion to postpone indefinitely, 
which shall be decided by a vote of two-thirds; but upon a question of 
insisting upon or receding from an amendment of the Senate to a reso¬ 
lution of the House of Eepresentatives, or upon the final question of 
agreeing to an amendment of the House to a resolution of the Senate, 
and also upon agreeing to the report of a committee of conference upon 
any resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution, the vote shall 
be determined by two-thirds of the Senators present. 


DEBATE. 


DEBATE—SENATORS MAY BE CALLED TO ORDER. 

3©. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rules of 
the Senate, the Presiding Officer shall, or any Senator may, call him to 
order; and when a Senator shall be so called to order, he shall sit down, 
and shall not proceed without leave of the Senate, which leave, if 
granted, shall be upon motion that he be allowed to proceed in order; 
which motion shall then be in order and be determined without debate. 

DEBATE—EXCEPTIONABLE WORDS IN, TAKEN DOWN. 

37. If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in debate, upon 
the demand of the Senator so called to order, or of any other Senator, 
the exceptionable words shall be taken down in writing. 




12 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


DEBATE—SENATORS NOT TO BE INTERRUPTED IN. 

38. The Presiding Officer shall name the Senator who is to speak, 
and in all cases the Senator who shall first rise and address the Chair 
shall speak first. No Senator shall speak to or interrupt another Sen¬ 
ator in debate without his consent; and to obtain such consent he shall 
first address the Chair. 

DEBATE—LIMIT IN. 

39. Every Senator, when he speaks, shall address the Chair, stand¬ 
ing in his place; and no Senator shall speak more than twice upon any 
one question in debate on the same day without leave of the Senate, 
which shall be determined without debate. 


ORDER. 


ORDER—QUESTIONS OF. 

40. A question of order may be raised at any state of the business, 
except when the Senate is dividing, and, when raised, shall be decided 
by the Presiding Officer, without debate, subject to an appeal to the 
Senate; or he may submit any question of order for the decision of the 
Senate. 

ORDER—APPEALS ON QUESTIONS OF. 

41. When an appeal is taken from the decision of the Chair, any sub¬ 
sequent questions of order which may arise before that appeal shall be 
determined, likewise any appeal therefrom, shall be decided without de¬ 
bate. All appeals taken when a proposition not debatable is pending 
shall also be decided without debate; and any appeal may be laid on 
the table without prejudice to the pending proposition, and thereupon 
shall be held as affirming the decision of the Chair. 


MOTIONS. 


MOTIONS—SECONDED ; WHEN TO BE REDUCED TO WRITING. 

42. All questions shall be put by the Presiding Officer of the Senate, 
and before a motion be debated, it shall be seconded; and if desired by 
the Presiding Officer, or any Senator, it shall also be reduced to writing. 

MOTIONS—PRECEDENCE OF. 

43. When a question is pending, no motion shall be received but— 
To adjourn, 






STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 13 

To adjourn to a clay certain, or that, when the Senate adjourn, it shall 
be to a day certain, 

To take a recess, 

To proceed to the consideratiou of executive business, 

To lay on the table, 

To postpone indefinitely, 

To postpone to a day certain, 

To commit, 

To amend; 

which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they 
stand arranged; and the motions relating to adjournment, to take a 
recess, to proceed to executive business, and to lay on the table, shall 
be decided without debate. 

MOTIONS—MAY BE WITHDRAWN OR MODIFIED. 

44. Any motion or resolution may be withdrawn or modified by the 
mover at any time before a decision, amendment, or ordering of the 
yeas and nays, except a motion to reconsider, which shall not be with¬ 
drawn without leave of the Senate. 


PREAMBLES. 


45. When a bill or resolution is accompanied by a preamble, the 
question shall first be put on the bill or resolution; and then on the pre¬ 
amble, which may be withdrawn by the mover before an amendment of 
the same, or ordering of the yeas and nays; or it may be laid on the 
table without prejudice to the bill or resolution, and shall be a final dis¬ 
position of such preamble. 


COMMITTEES. 


COMMITTEES—APPOINTMENT OF. 

40. In the appointment of the standing committees, the Senate, un¬ 
less otherwise ordered, shall proceed by ballot to appoint, severally, the 
chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, the other members 
necessary to complete the same. A majority of the whole number of 
votes given shall be necessary to the choice of a chairman of a standing 
committee, but a plurality of votes shall appoint the other members 
thereof. All other committees shall be appointed by ballot, unless 
otherwise ordered, and a plurality of votes shall appoint. 






14 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


When the chairman of a committee shall resign or cease to serve on a 
committee, and the Presiding Officer be authorized by the Senate to fill 
the vacancy in such committee, unless specially otherwise ordered, it 
shall be only to fill up the number on the committee. 

COMMITTEES—STANDING. 

47. The following standing committees shall be appointed at the 
commencement of each session, with leave to report by bill or other¬ 
wise: 

A Committee on Privileges and Elections, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Foreign Relations, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Finance, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Appropriations, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Commerce, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Manufactures, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Agriculture, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Military Affairs, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Naval Affairs, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on the Judiciary, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, to consist of nine Sen¬ 
ators. 

A Committee on Public Lands, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Private Land-Claims, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Indian Affairs, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Pensions, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Claims, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on the District of Columbia, to consist of seven Sen¬ 
ators. 

A Committee on Patents, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to consist of five 
Senators, who shall have power also to act jointly with the same com¬ 
mittee of the House of Representatives. 

A Committee on Territories, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Railroads, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Mines and Mining, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on the Revision of the Laws of the United States, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Education and Labor, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

A Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the 
Senate, to consist of three Senators, to which shall be referred all reso¬ 
lutions directing the payment of money out of the contingent fund of 
the Senate, or creating a charge upon the same. 

A Committee on Printing, to consist of three Senators, who shall have 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 15 

power also to act jointly with the same committee of the House of Rep¬ 
resentatives. 

A Committee on the Library, to consist of three Senators, who shall 
have power also to act jointly with the same committee of the House of 
Representatives. 

A Committee on Rules, to cousist of three Senators. 

A Committee on Engrossed Bills, to consist of three Senators, who 
shall examine all bills, amendments, and joint resolutions before they 
go out of the possession of the Senate. 

A Committee on Enrolled Bills, to consist of three Senators, who shall 
have power also to act jointly with the same committee of the House 
of Representatives, and who, or some one of wiiom, shall examine all 
bills or joint resolutions which shall have passed both Houses, to see 
that the same are correctly enrolled, and, when signed by the Speaker 
of the House and President of the Senate, shall forthwith present the 
same, when they shall have originated in the Senate, to the President 
of the United States in person, and report the fact aud date of such 
presentation to the Senate. 

COMMITTEES—REFERENCE TO. 

48. When motions are made for the reference of the same subject to 
a standing committee and to a select committee, the question shall first 
be put upon referring to a standing committee, and a motion simply to 
refer shall not be open to amendment, except to add instructions. 

COMMITTEES—OF CONFERENCE, REPORTS OF. 

49. The presentation of reports of Committees of Conference shall 
always be in order, except while the journal is being read or a ques¬ 
tion of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is 
dividing $ and, when received, the question of proceeding to the consid¬ 
eration of the report shall immediately be put, and shall be determined 
without debate. 

COMMITTEES—MOTIONS TO DISCHARGE AND REPORTS OF, TO LIE ONE 
DAY FOR CONSIDERATION. 

50. All reports of committees and motions to discharge a committee 
from the consideration of a subject, and all subjects from which a com¬ 
mittee shall be discharged, shall lie one day for consideration, unless by 
unanimous consent the Senate shall otherwise direct. 


16 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


MESSAGES. 


MESSAGES—FROM THE PRESIDENT AND FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRE¬ 
SENTATIVES. 

51, Messages from the President of the United States or from the 
House of Representatives may be received at any state of business, 
except while the Senate is dividing, or while the Journal is being read, 
or while a question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending. 

MESSAGES—TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO THE PRES¬ 
IDENT. 

53. Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives by the 
Secretary, who shall previously certify the determination of the Sen¬ 
ate upon all bills, joint resolutions, and other resolutions which may 
be communicated to the House, or in which its concurrence may be re¬ 
quested ; and he shall likewise certify and deliver to the President of 
the United States all resolutions and other communications which the 
Senate shall direct to be laid before him. 


PRINTING. 


PRINTING—OF PAPERS. 

53, Every motion to print documents, reports, or other matter trans¬ 
mitted by either of the Executive Departments, or to print memorials, 
petitions, accompanying documents, or any other paper, except bills of 
the Senate or House of Representatives, resolutions submitted by a 
Senator, communications from the legislatures or conventions, lawfully 
called, of the respective States, and motions to print by order of the 
standing or select committees of the Senate, shall, unless the Senate 
otherwise order, be referred to the Committee on Printing. When a 
motion is made to commit with instructions, it shall be.in order to add 
thereto a motion to print. 

PRINTING—ADDITIONAL NUMBERS. 

54. Motions to print additional numbers shall also be referred to the 
Committee on Printing; and, when the committee shall report in favor 
of printing additional numbers, the report shall be accompanied by an 
estimate of the probable cost thereof; and when the cost of printing 
such additional numbers shall exceed the sum of five hundred dollars, 
the concurrence of the House of Representatives shall be necessary for 
the order to print the same. 





STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 17 

PRINTING—OF BILLS, JOINT RESOLUTIONS, AND REPORTS OF COMMIT¬ 
TEES. 

55. Every bill and joint resolution introduced on leave or reported 
from a committee, and all bills and joint resolutions received from the 
House of Representatives, and all reports of committees, shall be printed, 
unless, for the dispatch of the business of the Senate, such printing may 
be dispensed with. 


WITHDRAWAL OR REFERENCE. 


WITHDRAWAL—OF PAPERS. 

56. No memorial or other paper presented to the Senate, except 
original treaties finally acted upon by the Senate, shall be withdrawn 
from its files, except by order of the Senate. But when an act may 
pass for the settlement of any private claim, the Secretary is authorized 
to transmit to the officer charged with the settlement the papers on file 
relating to the claim. 

WITHDRAWAL—WHEN ADVERSE REPORT MADE, COPIES LEFT WITH 
SECRETARY OF SENATE. 

57. No memorial or other paper, upon which an adverse report has 
been made, shall be withdrawn from the files of the Senate, -unless 
copies thereof shall be left in the office of the Secretary. 

REFERENCE—OF CLAIMS ADVERSELY REPORTED. 

58. Whenever a claim is presented to the Senate and referred to a 
committee, and the committee report that the claim ought not to be 
allowed, and the report shall have been agreed to by the Senate, it shall 
not be in order to move to take the papers from the files for the purpose 
of referring them at a subsequent session, unless the claimant shall 
present a memorial for that purpose, stating that new evidence has been 
discovered since the report, and setting forth the new evidence in the 
memorial. 


BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM SESSION TO 

SESSION. 


56. At the second or any subsequent session of a Congress, the 
legislative business of the Senate which remained undetermined at the 
close of the next preceding session of that Congress shall be resumed 
and proceeded with in the same manner as if no adjournment of the 

9 






18 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


Senate had taken place; and all subjects referred to committees and not 
reported upon at the close of a session of Congress shall be returned to 
the office of the Secretary of the Senate, and be retained by him until 
the next succeeding session of that Congress, when they shall be re¬ 
turned to the several committees to which they had previously been 
referred. 


PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR. 


00. No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate while in 
session, except as follows : 

The officers of the Senate. 

Members of the House of Representatives and their Clerk. 

The President of the United States and his Private Secretary. 

The heads of Departments. 

Ministers of the United States. 

Foreign ministers. 

Ex-Presidents and Ex-Vice-Presidents of the United States. 
Ex-Senators and Senators-elect. 

Judges of the Supreme Court. 

Governors of States and Territories. 

General of the Army. 

Admiral of the Navy. 

Members of national legislatures of foreign countries. 

Private secretaries of Senators, duly appointed in writing, and the 
Librarian of Congress. 


SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. 


J 

61. No motion to suspend, modify, or amend any rule, or any part 
■thereof, shall be in order, except on one day 7 s notice Rewriting, speci¬ 
fying precisely the rule or part proposed to be suspended, modified, or 
amended, and the purpose thereof. Any rule, except the eighteenth, 
may be suspended without notice by the unanimous consent of the 
Senate; and the rule proposed to be suspended shall precisely and dis¬ 
tinctly be stated. The eighteenth rule shall never be suspended under 
any circumstances whatever. 






STANDING RULES OF TIIE SENATE. 


19 


SENATE WING- OF CAPITOL UNDER CON¬ 
TROL OF PRESIDING OFFICER. 


The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall have the regulation 
and control of such parts of the Capitol building, and of its corridors 
and passages, as are, or may be, set apart for the use of the Senate and 
its officers, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. 


OATHS OF OFFICE. 


055. The oath or affirmation required by the Constitution and pre¬ 
scribed by the act of June 1, 1789, shall be taken in open Senate by 
each Senator before entering upon his duties; and he shall also take 
and subscribe in open Senate the oath or affirmation prescribed by the 
act of July 2,1862, or he shall take and subscribe the oath or affirmation 
prescribed by the act of July 11,1868, as the case may be, before enter¬ 
ing upon his duties. The said oaths shall also be taken and subscribed, 
in the same manner, by the Secretary of the Senate; but the other 
officers of the Senate may take and subscribe them in the office of the 
Secretary. 


SESSION WITH CLOSED DOORS. 


04 . On a motion made and seconded to close the doors of the Senate, 
on the discussion of any business which may, in the opinion of a Sena¬ 
tor, require secrecy, the Presiding Officer shall direct the galleries to be 
cleared; and during the discussion of such motion the doors shall re¬ 
main closed. 


EXECUTIVE SESSION. 


EXECUTIVE SESSION—THE PRESIDENT MEETING THE SENATE IN. 

When the President of the United States shall meet the Senate 
in the Senate Chamber for the consideration of executive business, he 
shall have a seat on the right of the Chair. When the Senate shall be 
convened by the President of the United States to any other place, the 
Presiding Officer of the Senate and the Senators shall attend at the 
place appointed, with the necessary officers of the Senate. 









20 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


EXECUTIVE SESSION—OFFICERS ADMITTED IN. 

00. When acting upon confidential or executive business, the Senate 
Chamber shall be cleared of all persons except the Secretary, the Chief 
Clerk, the principal Legislative Clerk, the Executive Clerk, the Miqute 
and Journal Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Assistant Doorkeeper, 
and such other officers as the Presiding Officer shall think necessary ; 
and all such officers shall be sworn to secrecy. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—INJUNCTION OF SECRECY. 

07. All confidential communications made by the President of the 
United States to the Senate, shall be by the Senators and the officers of 
the Senate kept secret; and all treaties which may be laid before the 
Senate, and all remarks, votes, and proceedings thereon, shall also be 
kept secret, until the Senate shall, by their resolution, take off the in¬ 
junction of secrecy. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—VIOLATION OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY. 

08. Any Senator or officer of the Senate who shall disclose the secret 
or confidential business or proceedings of the Senate shall be liable, if 
a Senator, to suffer expulsion from the body ; and if an officer, to dis¬ 
missal from the service of the Senate, and to punishment for contempt. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—PROCEEDINGS ON TREATIES. 

When a treaty shall be laid before the Senate for ratification, it 
shall be read a first time; and no motion in respect to it shall be in 
order, except to refer it to a committee, or to print it, in confidence, for 
the use of the Senate. 

When a treaty is reported from a committee with or without amend¬ 
ment, it shall, unless the Senate unanimously otherwise direct, lie one 
day for consideration; after which it maybe read a second time and 
considered as in Committee of the Whole, when it shall be proceeded 
with by articles; and the amendments reported by the committee shall 
be first acted upon, after which other amendments may be proposed; 
and when through with, the proceedings had as in Committee of the 
Whole shall be reported to the Senate, when the question shall be, if 
the treaty be amended, “Will the Senate concur in the amendments 
made in Committee of the Whole?” And the amendments maybe 
taken separately, or in gross, if no Senator shall object; after which 
new amendments may be proposed. 

The decisions thus made shall be reduced to the form of a resolution 
of ratification, with or without amendments, as the case may be, which 
shall be proposed on a subsequent day, unless, by unanimous consent, 
the Senate determine otherwise; at which stage no amendment shall be 
received, unless by unanimous consent. 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


21 


On the final question to advise and consent to the ratification in the 
form agreed to, the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators present 
shall be necessary to determine it in the affirmative; but all other mo¬ 
tions and questions upon a treaty shall be decided by a majority vote, 
except a motion to postpone indefinitely, which shall be decided by a 
vote of two-thirds. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—WHEN ACTION UPON TREATIES SHALL EXPIRE. 

70. Treaties transmitted by the President to the Senate for ratifica¬ 
tion shall be resumed at the second or any subsequent session of the 
same Congress at the stage in which they were left at the final adjourn¬ 
ment of the session at which they were transmitted ; but all proceed¬ 
ings on treaties shall terminate with the Congress, and they shall be 
resumed at the commencement of the next Congress, as if no proceed¬ 
ings had previously been had thereon. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—INDIAN TREATIES, IN CLOSED OR OPEN SES 

SION. 

7 I . All treaties concluded with Indian tribes shall be considered and 
acted upon by the Senate in its open or legislative session, unless the 
same shall be transmitted by the President to the Senate in confidence; 
in which case they shall be acted upon with closed doors. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—NOMINATIONS, PROCEEDINGS. 

7£. When nominations shall be made by the President of the United 
States to the Senate, they shall, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, 
be referred to appropriate committees, and the final question on every 
nomination shall be, u Will the Senate advise and consent to this nomi¬ 
nation?” which question shall not be put on the same day on which 
the nomination is received, nor on the day on which it may be reported 
by a committee, unless by the unanimous consent of the Senate. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—NOMINATIONS, INJUNCTION OF SECRECY. 

755. All information communicated or remarks made by a Senator 
when acting upon nominations, concerning the character or qualifica¬ 
tions of the person nominated, also all votes upon any nomination, shall 
be kept secret. If, however, charges shall be made against a person 
nominated, the committee may, in its discretion, notify such nominee 
thereof, but the name of the person making such charges shall not be 
disclosed. The, fact that a nomination has been made, or that it has 
been confirmed or rejected, shall not be regarded as a secret. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—NOMINATIONS, RECONSIDERATION. 

74. When a nomination is confirmed or rejected, any Senator voting 
in the majority may move for a reconsideration on the same day on 
which the vote was taken, or on either of the next two days of actual 


22 


STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE. 


executive session of the Senate; but if a notification of the confirma¬ 
tion or rejection of a nomination shall have been sent to the President 
before the expiration of the time within which a motion to reconsider 
may be made, the motion to reconsider shall be accompanied by a mo¬ 
tion to request the President to return such notification to the Senate. 
Any motion to reconsider the vote on a nomination may be laid on the 
table without prejudice to the nomination, and shall be a final disposi¬ 
tion of such motion. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—NOMINATIONS, WHEN RETURNED TO THE PRESI¬ 
DENT. 

75 . Nominations confirmed or rejected by the Senate shall not be 
returned by the Secretary to the President until the expiration of the 
time limited for making a motion to reconsider the same, or while a 
motion to reconsider is pending, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—NOMINATIONS, WHEN MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER 

SHALL FALL. 

76 . When the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more than 
thirty days, all motions to reconsider a vote upon a nomination which 
has been confirmed or rejected by the Senate, which shall be pending 
at the time of taking such adjournment or recess, shall fall; and the 
Secretary shall return all such nominations to the President as confirmed 
or rejected by the Senate, as the case may be. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—NOMINATIONS, NOT DETERMINED, WHEN TO FALL 
WHEN RETURNED TO THE PRESIDENT. 

77 . Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the session at 
which they are made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding session 
without being again made to the Senate by the President; and if the 
Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more than thirty days, all 
nominations pending and not finally acted upon at the time of taking 
such adjournment or recess shall be returned by the Secretary to the 
President, and shall not again be considered unless they shall again be 
made to the Senate by the President. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION—NOMINATIONS, THE PRESIDENT FURNISHED WITH 
COPIES OF RECORD. 

78. The President of the United States shall, from time to time, be 
furnished with an authenticated transcript of the executive records of 
the Senate, but no further extract from the Executive Journal shall be 
furnished, except by special order of the Senate; and no paper, except 
original treaties transmitted to the Senate by the President of the United 
States, and finally acted upon by the Senate, shall be delivered from 
the office of the Secretary without an order of the Senate for that pur¬ 
pose. 


LVDEX TO THE RULES. 


A. 


Number;. 


Absent himself from the service of the Seriate without leave. No Senator shall.. 
Absent Senators. Less than a quorum may request or compel the attendance of.. 
Additional numbers of a document shall he referred to the Committee on Printing. 

All motions to print. 

Where the cost shall exceed five hundred dollars, the concurrence of the 

House of Representatives shall be necessary. 

Adjourn. A motion to, shall have precedence of all other motions. 

Adjourn to a day certain shall he second in the order of precedence of motions. 

A motion to. 

Admission to the floor of the Senate. Persons entitled to. 

Amendments. When a question contains several points, a division may he called 

for. 

But a motion to strike out and insert shall not he divided. 

Rejection of a motion to strike out and insert shall not prevent a motion 

simply to strike out......~. 

Nor shall the rejection of a motion to strike out prevent a motion to strike 

out and insert. 

In a motion to strike out and insert, the part to be stricken out and the part 

to he inserted shall each he regarded as a question. 

It shall not he in order on the third reading of a hill to offer an amendment- 
Amendments to general appropriation bills. No amendment shall he received which 

will increase an appropriation in the hill. 

No amendment adding a new item to the hill, unless to carry out existing 

law or treaty stipulation, shall he received. 

Amendments must he moved hy direction of a committee or in pursuance of 

an estimate of the head of a Department. 

All amendments moved, hy direction of a committee must he referred one 

day before being offered to the Committee on Appropriations. 

No amendment to an amendment increasing the appropriation therein shall 

he received. 

Amendments to river and harbor hills shall also he referred before being of¬ 
fered .... 

Amendments to post-road hills shall also he referred before being offered... 

No amendment proposing general legislation shall he received. 

No amendment not relevant or germane to the subject-matter of the hill 

shall he received. 

An amendment to a general appropriation hill may be laid on the table.... 

No amendment to provide for a private claim shall he received.. .. 

In filling blanks the longest time and largest sum shall first he put. 

Amendments to the Constitution shall he treated, in all respects, in their intro¬ 
duction and form of proceedings as bills. Resolutions proposing. 

Amendments to treaties shall he determined hy a majority vote. All questions of 


3 

3 


54 

54 

43 


43 

60 

31 

31 


31 

31 

31 

26 


27 

29 

29 


28 


28 


29 


29 

29 

30 
32 


35 

69 
























24 


INDEX. 


\ 

Number. 

Appeals iu questious of order. Every question of order decided by the Chair 

shall be subject to an appeal to the Senate. 40 

When an appeal is pending, any question of order or appeal that may after¬ 
ward arise shall be decided without debate. 41 

An appeal arising pending an undebatable question shall be decided with¬ 
out debate. 41 

If an appeal be laid on the table, it shall be held as affirming the decision 

of the Chair. 41 

Appropriation bills. (See General appropriation bills.) 

Attendance of absent Senators. The Sergeant-at-Arms may be directed to request, 

and, if necessary, compel the. 3 

12. 

Ballot. The chairman and members of the standing committees shall be ap¬ 
pointed by. 46 

A majority shall choose a chairman, and a plurality the other members of a 

standing committee. 46 

Bills and joint resolutions. Order in which the Chair shall call for, in the morn¬ 
ing hour. 8 

One day’s notice of an intention to ask leave to bring in, which may be dis¬ 
pensed with by unanimous consent. 22 

Shall have three several readings before passage, which shall be on three 

different days unless by unanimous consent..A.. . 23 

May be read twice on the same day for reference only. 24 

If not referred, they shall not be considered as in Committee of the Whole, nor 

debated if objected to, but shall go on the Calendar. 25 

All bills and joint resolutions reported from a committee shall also go on the 

Calendar. 25 

Before amendment shall be considered as in Committee of the Whole. 26 

When ordered to a third reading they shall not be open to amendment. 26 

But may be committed before the question is put upon the passage. 26 

If committed when reported shall again go on the Calendar as bills in Com¬ 
mittee of the Whole. 26 

Bills. General appropriation bills. All general appropriation bills shall be re¬ 
ferred to the Committee on Appropriations. 27 

Limitations to amendments which may be proposed to.27,28,29, 30 

Amendments proposing new items of appropriation shall before being offered 

be referred. 28 

Bills making appropriations for rivers and harbors shall be referred to the 

Committee on Commerce. 28 

No amendment proposing general legislation shall be proposed to any gen¬ 
eral appropriation bill. 29 

No amendment to provide for a private claim shall be offered unless to carry 

ont existing law. 30 

Blanks. The largest sum and longest time put in filling. 32 

Business of the morning hour, order of. 8 

Business of the Senate continued from session to session. The legislative. 5^ 

C. 

Calendar of general orders. At the expiration of the morning hour, if there be no 

unfinished business or special order, the Senate shall take up the. 13 

Subjects on the Calendar to be taken up in their order, and shall be resumed 

at the point reached when last taken up. 13 

Every bill and joint resolution reported from a committee, and bills and joint 
resolutions from the House of Representatives, read twice but not referred, 
shall be placed on the. 25 































INDEX. 


f 


25 


% Number. 

Call of the Senate. When a question is raised as to the presence of a quorum, the 

Chair shall direct the roll to be called. 2 

Capitol building. The Senate wing of the Capitol building, its corridors and 


passages, to be under the control of the Presiding Officer. 

Casting vote. The Vice-President, when the Senate shall be equally divided, 

may give the casting vote. 

Claims rejected by the Senate cannot be again referred unless new evidence be 

presented. 

Claims adversely reported on cannot be withdrawn without leaving copies. Peti¬ 
tions and papers relating to private. 

Claims, the papers may be sent to the proper officer by the Secretary. Where 

acts have passed for private. 

Closed doors. On the discussion of a subject which may require secrecy, the 

galleries shall be cleared and the doors closed.. 

Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-in Asylum. The President of the Senate 

to appoint one Senator a director for the. 

Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The President of the Senate to 

appoint one Senator a director of the. 

Commit. After the third reading and before the passage of a bill a motion may 

be made to... 

When a question is pending, the order stated in which a motion may be 

made to... 

A motion to commit not open to amendment except to add instructions.... 
Committee of the Whole. All bills and joint resolutions shall, before passage, be 

first considered as in. 

When a bill is recommitted aud agaiu reported, it shall be again taken up 

as in. 

Treaties when acted upon in executive session shall be first considered 

as in... 

Committees. Order in which the Chair shall call for reports of. 

The standing committees unless otherwise ordered shall be appointed by 

ballot. 

A majority of votes necessary to the choice of a chairman. 

Select committees and the residue of the standing committees may be chosen 

by a plurality. 

Vacancies in committees when filled shall be only to fill up the number of 

members... 

Enumeration of the standing committees to be appointed at the commence¬ 
ment of each session. 

A motion to refer to a standing committee shall take precedence of a motion 

to refer to a select committee. 

A motion to refer shall not be open to amendment, except to add instructions 

All reports of committees shall lie one day for consideration. 

Committees of conference. Reports of committees of conference shall be always in 
order, except, &c., and the question of their consideration shall be imme¬ 
diately put without debate . 

Conference. Reports of committees of conference shall always be in order, and 

the question of their consideration be immediately put without debate - 

Reports of committees of conference on resolutions proposing amendments 

to the Constitution shall be decided by a vote of two-thirds. 

Confidential communications from the President, and all treaties, proceedings, and 

remarks thereon, shall be kept secret. 

Confidential business of the Senate. Penalties for disclosing the. 

Constitution. Form of proceeding on resolutions proposing amendments to the.. 


62 

ID 

58 


56 


64 


26 

43 

48 

26 

26 

6D 
• 8 

46 

46 

46 

46 

47 

48 
48 
50 


49 

49 


35 


67 

68 


i 




























26 


INDEX. 


Number. 

Constitution. A vote of two-tliirds required to agree to a report of a committee 

of conference on a resolution proposing amendments to the. 35 

A motion to postpone indefinitely a resolution proposing amendments shall 

require a vote of two-thirds.. 35 

Contingent fund of the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Contingent 

Expenses. All resolutions for the payment of money from the. 47 

Credentials of Senators-elect shall always be in order, and be proceeded with 

until disposed of by the Senate. The presentation of. 7 

Delate. If a Senator in speaking, or otherwise, transgress the rules, the Pre¬ 
siding Officer shall, or any Senator may, call him to order. 36 

When called to order he shall sit down, and shall not proceed without leave 

of the Senate. 36 

If leave be granted to proceed, it shall be on motion, and determined with¬ 
out . 36 

If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in debate, the exceptionable 

words, if required, shall be taken down. 37 

The Presiding Officer shall name the Senator who is to speak, who, in all 

cases, shall be the Senator who shall first address the Chair. 38 

No Senator shall interrupt another without his consent, to obtain which 

he shall first address the Chair. 38 

No Senator shall speak more than twice on any one question on the same 

day without leave of the Senate, to be determined without debate. 39 

Upon the merits of the question. A motion to take up a subject shall be 

decided without debate. 8 

Decision is announced. No Senator shall, under any circumstances, be permitted 

to vote after a. 18 

But he may, for special reasons, by unanimous consent, change or withdraw 

his vote after a. 18 

Any motion or resolution may be withdrawn, except a motion to reconsider 

before an amendment, ordering the yeas and nays, or before a. 44 

Discharge of a committee. A motion to discharge a committee from a subject 

shall lie one day for consideration. 50 

All subjects from which a committee shall be discharged shall also lie one 

day for consideration. 50 

Division of a question. If the question in debate contain several points, any 

Senator may have the same divided. 31 

A motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided. 31 

Doors to le closed. On the discussion of any business which may in the opinion 
of a Senator require secrecy, upon a motion made the Presiding Officer 
shall direct the. 64 

E. 

Equally divided. The Vice-President may, by his vote, determine the question 

when the Senate is. 19 

Excejytionable words shall be taken down. If a Senator be called to order for 

words spoken in debate, the. 37 

Excused from voting. In calling the yeas and nays, each Senator, when his uame 

is called, shall answer without debate, unless for special reasons he be_ 16 

When reasons shall be assigned for not voting, their sufficiency shall be 

determined without debate. 17 

These proceedings shall be after the roll is called, and before the decision is 

announced. 17 

Executive business shall be decided without debate. A motion to proceed to con¬ 
sideration of. 43 



























INDEX. 27 

_ Number. 

Executive business. 1 he President shall have a seat on the right of the Chair 

when he shall meet the Senate in. 65 

The Senate shall he cleared of all persons except the officers in attendance 

(who shall be sworn to secrecy) when in. 66 

All confidential communications made by the President, and all treaties, and 

remarks, votes, and proceedings thereon, shall be kept secret. 67 

Any Senator who shall disclose the secret proceedings of the Senate shall, if 

a Senator, be liable to expulsion ; if an officer, to dismissal. 6 S 

Proceedings upon treaties. (See Treaties.) 

Proceedings upon nominations. (See Nominations.) 

Executive record, the President shall, from time to time, be furnished with an 

authenticated transcript of the. 78 

No further extracts shall be furnished by the Secretary without an order of 

the Senate. 73 

Executive proceedings of the Senate shall he kept in a separate book. 6 

Extra copies of documents shall be referred to the Committee on Printing. 

Motion to print. 55 

W hen the cost of additional copies shall exceed five hundred dollars the 

concurrence of the House shall be necessary. . . 54 

Extracts from the executive journal shall not be given without an order of the 

Senate. 73 

F. 

Filling blanks. The largest sum and the longest time shall be first put in. 32 

Floor of the Senate. Persons entitled to admission on the., ..._v. 60 

G. 

Galleries to be cleared and the doors closed, on discussing a question requiring se¬ 
crecy. The Chair shall direct the. 64 

General appropriation bills. All general appropriation bills shall be referred to 

the Committee on Appropriations. 26,27 

Amendments to. No amendment shall be received which shall increase the 
appropriation, unless to carry out some existing law, or resolution of the 
Senate, or by direction of a standing or select committee, or in pursuance 

of an estimate of the head of a Department. 27 

All amendments proposing to increase an appropriation shall one day previ¬ 
ous to being offered be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. 27 

No amendment shall be proposed to an amendment increasing the amount in 

such amendment. 28 

Amendments moved by direction of a committee shall be first referred to 

the Committee on Appropriations. 28 

No amendment proposing general legislation, or that is not germane or rele¬ 
vant to the subject of the bill, shall bo received. 29 

No amendment to any item or clause that does not directly relate thereto 

shall be received. 29 

All questions of relevancy of amendments shall be decided by the Senate 

and without debate. 29 

No amendment providing for a private claim, unless to carry out a law or 

treaty stipulation, shall be received.* 39 

Any amendment to a general aj>propriation bill may be laid on the table.... 29 

General legislation to general appropriation bills. No amendment shall be ad¬ 
mitted proposing. 29 

General Orders. (See Calendar.) 

Germane. No amendment to any general appropriation bill shall be offered which 

is not relevant or. 29 



























28 


INDEX. 


Number. 

Indian treaties shall, unless transmitted by the President in confidence, be acted 

upon in legislative session. 71 

Injunction of secrecy. All confidential communications from the President, and 

all treaties, and remarks and proceedings thereon, are embraced within the 67 
All information given or remarks made by a Senator touching the character 
or qualifications of a nominee, and all votes on a nomination, are within 

the. 73 

A person nominated may be notified of charges made against him, but the 

name of the person making them shall not be disclosed. 73 

A Senator disclosing the confidential or secret business of the Senate, shall 

be liable to expulsion. 68 

An officer of the Senate committing a like offense shall be dismissed and 
punished for contempt.... 

J. 

Journal. A quorum being present, the Journal of the previous day’s session shall 

be read, and any mistake in the entries corrected. 1 

A motion to amend the Journal shall be deemed a privileged question and 

be proceeded with until disposed of. 1 

The proceedings of the Senate shall be briefly and accurately s'tafced in the. 5 
Every vote of the Seuate, and a brief statement of each memorial or paper 

presented, shall be entered on the. 5 

The legislative, executive, and impeachment proceedings of the Senate shall 

be each recorded in a separate,. 6 

Laid on the table. A preamble to a bill or resolution may, without carrying the 

bill or resolution, be. 45 

A motion to reconsider may be laid on the table without carrying the sub¬ 
ject and shall be a final disposition thereof. 21 

An amendment to a general appropriation bill may be. 29 

An appeal from the decision of the Chair may be_, . 41 

Leave to introduce a bill. One day’s notice shall be given of an intended motion 

for. 22 

Leave of the Senate. A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without_ 44 

No Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without.... 3 

No Senator shall speak more than twice on any one question on the same day 

without. 39 

A Senator when called to order shall sit down and shall not proceed without. 36 

No memorial or other paper, except original treaties, shall be withdrawn 

without. 5(3 

Legislative business. The legislative business of the Senate shall be continued 

from session to session of the same Congress. 59 

The legislative proceedings of the Senate shall be recorded in a separate 

book. 6 

M. 

Majority. A motion to reconsider a vote previously decided by two-thirds may be 

•decided by a. op 

All questions on resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution, 
except on the passage, on a motion to postpone indefinitely, on insisting 
upon or receding from a Senate amendment, on agreeing to a House 
amendment or to a report of a committee of conference, shall be decided 

V a. 35 

All questions upon a treaty, except on the question of ratification, and on a 

motion to postpone indefinitely, shall be by a. 69 























INDEX. 


29 


Number. 

Memorials and petitions shall bo referred without putting the question. 14 

Before being presented or read they shall be signed, and a brief statement 

of their contents shall be made. 14 

Of foreign citizens or subjects shall not be received unless through the Sec¬ 
retary of State... 14 

Where an adverse report has been agreed to they shall not be withdrawn, 

unless copies are left with the Secretary. 57 

Where an adverse report has been agreed to they shall not be referred from 

the files, unless with new evidence.. 58 

Shall not be withdrawn from the files without leave of the Senate. 58 

When an act has passed for the settlement of a private claim, the Secretary 

may transmit the papers to the accounting-officers. 54 

Merits of the question proposed to be considered. It shall not be in order to dis¬ 
cuss the... 8 

Messages from the President and from the House of Representatives may bo re¬ 
ceived at any state of the business... 51 

Messages to the House and communications to the President shall be taken 

by the Secretary... 52 

Morning hour. The order of business, which shall not be interrupted, unless 

by unanimous consent, prescribed.... 8 

No motion to proceed to the consideration of subjects on the Calendar shall 

be received, except by unanimous consent, during the. 8 

A motion received by unanimous consent to take up a subject shall not be 

open to amendment nor debate on the merits of the question... 8 

What subjects shall be taken up during any remaining portion of the. 8 

Motions. Before a motion shall be debated it shall be seconded, and if required, 

be reduced to waiting. 42 

Which may be made when a question is under consideration; the order and 

precedence of which. 43 

A motion or resolution may be withdrawn or modified before a division, 

amendment, or ordering of the yeas and nays. 45 

A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without leave of the Senate. 44 
A motion to discharge a committee shall lie over one day for consideration, 

unless by unanimous consent. 50 

W. 

Nominations. The question on their confirmation shall not be put on the same 
day on which they are received, nor on the day on which they may be re¬ 
ported . 72 

Discussions upon the character and qualifications of a nominee and the 

votes upon a nomination shall be kept secret. 73 

The person nominated may be notified of charges against him, but the name 

of the party making them shall not be disclosed. 73 

A motion to reconsider the vote on a nomination may be made within two 

days of actual session. 74 

Notice of confirmation shall not be sent to the President until the expira¬ 
tion of two days of actual session. 75 

When the President has been notified of a confirmation, a motion to recon¬ 
sider must be accompanied by a request to the President to return the 

resolution of confirmation. 74 

A motion to reconsider the vote on a nomination may be laid on the table, 

which shall be final . 74 

Upon an adjournment of Congress, or a recess of more than thirty days, all 
motions to reconsider shall fall, and the nominations stand as confirmed 
or rejected, as the case may be..... 7G 



























30 


INDEX. 


Number. 

Nominations not confirmed or rejected at one session, shall not he considered at 

the next session unless renominated. 77 

Upon an adjournment of Congress, or on taking a recess of thirty days, all 
nominations not finally acted upon shall be returned to the President .... 77 

Notice shall be given of an intended motion for leave to bring in a bill At least 

one day’s. 22 

O. 

Oaths of office. The oaths required by the Constitution and prescribed by the 
acts of June 1,1789, July 2, 1862, and July 11,1868, shall be taken by Sena¬ 
tors and. the officers of the Senate before entering upon the duties of their 

offices. 63 

Order of business. One hour next after the Journal is read shall be designated as 
the morning hour, during which no other business, except that prescribed, 

shall be taken up unless by unanimous consent. 

Order in debate. When a Senator shall be called to order, he shall sit down, and 
shall not proceed without leave of the Senate, which shall be determined 

without debate. 36 

No Senator shall speak to or interrupt another without his consent, to obtain 

which he shall first address the Chair. 38 

If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in debate, the exceptionable 

words, if required, shall be taken down. 37 

The Presiding Officer shall name the Senator who is to speak, who shall in 

all cases be the one who shall first address the Chair. 33 

No Senator shall speak more than twice ou any one question on the same 

day without leave of the Senate, to be determined without debate. 39 

A motion to take up a subject shall not be open to debate on the merits of 

the subject proposed to be considered. 8 

Order, questions of. A question of order may be raised at any time, and shall be 

decided by the Chair, without debate . 40 

An appeal may be taken from the decision of the Chair on a question of 

order. 40 

The Chair may submit any question of order to the decision of the Senate. 40 
When an appeal is taken from the decision of the Chair, any subsequent 

question of order or appeal shall be decided without debate . 41 

Appeals taken from the decisions of the Chair, upon questions not themselves 

debatable, shall be decided without debate . 41 

An appeal may be laid on the table, which shall be regarded as sustaining 

the decision of the Chair. 41 

P. 

Pages. Relative to the appointment of.. 

Papers. When the reading of a paper is called for, and objection be made, it 

shall be submitted to the Senate without debate. 15 

No papers, except original treaties, shall, without leave of the Senate, be 

withdrawn from its files. 56 

When an act has passed for the settlement of a private claim, the Secretary 

may transmit the papers to the accounting-officers. 56 

When a claim has been adversely reported ou, and the report be agreed to, the 

papers shall not be referred from the files without new evidence. 53 

Where an adverse report has been made, papers shall not be withdrawn 

without leaving copies with the Secretary... 53 

Petitions, before being presented, must be signed, and a brief statement of their 

contents made. 14 
























INDEX. 


31 


Number. 


Petitions. No petition or other paper signed by citizens or subjects of a foreign 

power shall be received unless through the President. 14 

Every petition shall be referred, of course, without putting the question, 

unless there bo objection. 14 

Plurality of votes. Select committees and the members of standing committees 

(except the chairman) shall be elected by a. 46 

Preamble to a resolution. The question shall be first put upon the resolution 

and last on the preamble. 45 

To a resolution may be withdrawn before an amendment or ordering of the 

yeas and nays. It may also be laid on the table. 45 

To a bill shall be last put to question and may also be laid on the table.... 43 
Presiding Officer of the Senate. In the absence of the Vice-President, the Senate 

shall choose a President pro tempore . 4 

He shall have the right to name a Senator to occupy the chair, who shall 

not hold beyond an adjournment. 4 

The regulation and control of such parts of the Capitol building as are set 

apart for the use of the Senate shall be under the Presiding Officer. 62 

The Presiding Officer shall decide every question of order without debate, 

subject to an appeal to the Senate. 40 

He may submit any question of order without decision to the Senate. 40 

Printing. Every motion to print, except to print bills, reports of committees, 


resolutions, communications from State legislatures and conventions, and 
motions to print, made by direction of committees, shall be referred to 

the Committee on. 53 

All reports of committees, unless for the dispatch of business the printing 

be dispensed with, shall be printed. 55 

Motions to print additional numbers shall be referred to the Committee on. 54 
When the cost of printing additional numbers shall exceed five hundred dol¬ 
lars, it shall be by concurrent resolution. 54 

Every bill, joint resolution, and report of committee shall be printed. 55 

Private Claim. No memorial or other paper shall be withdrawn from the files 

without leave of the Senate. 56 

Where a private act has passed, the Secretary may transmit the papers to 

the officer charged with the settlement. 56 

No private claim, which has been rejected, shall be again referred from the 

files without new evidence. 58 

Where an adverse report has been made on a private claim, the papers shall 

not be withdrawn without leaving copies. 57 

No amendment shall be proposed to any general appropriation bill whose 
object is to provide for a. 30 


Question of order shall be decided by the Chair, without debate, subject to an 

appeal to the Senate. Every. 40 

The Chair may submit any question of order to the decision of the Seuate.. 40 
When an appeal is taken from the decision of the Chair, any subsequent 

question of order or appeal shall be decided without debate. 41 

Appeals from the decision of the Chair, growiug out of questions undebat- 

able, shall be decided without debate. .. 41 

An appeal from the decision of the Chair may be laid on the table, which 

shall be held to affirm the decision of the Chair. 41 

Question under debate contains several points, any Senator may call for a division. 

If the. 31 

But a motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided. 31 


























32 


INDEX. 


Number. 

Question under delate. But, pending a motion to strike out and insert, each part 
shall he regarded as a question ; and the part to be striken out shall he 

first open to amendment. 31 

Quorum. The journal of the proceedings of the preceding day shall he read, there 

being present a. 1 

The presence of a quorum being questioned, the Chair shall direct the roll to 

he called to ascertain the presence of a .. 2 

A majority of the Senators present may request or compel the attendance of 

Senators to make a. 3 

Reading the execution of the order requiring the presence of absent Sena¬ 
tors, no debate or motion shall be in order but to adjourn. 3 

R. 

Beading of a paper.' When the reading of a paper is called for, and it be ob¬ 
jected to, it shall be decided by the Senate without debate. 15 

Becess. Pending the consideration of a question, a motion, which shall be decided 

without debate, may be made for a. 43 

Becess of the Senate for more than thirty days. All nominations and motions to 

reconsider nominations shall fall upon a. 76 

* Beconsideration. A motion to reconsider may be made by any one voting on the 

side that prevailed. 20 

A motion to reconsider may be made within the two next days of actual 

ession, and shall be decided by a majority. 20 

When a bill or other matter shall have gone out of the possession of the 
Senate, the motion to reconsider shall be accompanied by a request for the 

return of the same. 20 

Which last motion shall be determined at once and without debate. 20 

If the Senate shall refuse to reconsider a vote, or upon reconsideration shall 
re'affirm its first decision, it shall not be in order to move to reconsider... 21 

If a motion be made to reconsider a vote upon a question under consider¬ 
ation, the motion to reconsider shall be decided at once. 21 

A motion to reconsider may be laid on the table without prejudice to the 

main question... 21 

And if laid on the table, shall be a final disposition of the motion. 21 

A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without leave of the Senate.. 44 
A motion to reconsider a vote on a nomination may be laid on the table, and 

shall be final.. 74 

Amotion to* reconsider a vote on a nomination returned to the President 

must be accompanied by a request for its return to the Senate.. 74 

Motions to reconsider nominations shall fall upon a recess of thirty days, 

or on final adjournment... 76 

Seduced to writing. Before a motion shall be debated it shall be seconded, and, if 

required. 42 

Beference to a committee. A motion to refer shall not be open to amendment un¬ 
less it be to add instructions. 14 

A motion to refer to a standing committee shall have precedence of a motion 

to refer to a select committee. 14 

Every bill and joint resolution shall be read twice. 24 

A motion to refer to a standing committee shall have preference. 48 

A motion to refer shall not be open to amendment, except to add instruc¬ 
tions. 43 

Before the final vote on the passage of a bill or resolution it shall be in order 

to move its. 26 

Belevant to the subject-matter thereof. No amendment shall be proposed to any 

general appropriation bill which shall not be germane or. 29 




























INDEX. 


33 


Number. 

Reports of committees. The order in which they shall be called for by the Chair 

in the morning hour. 8 

If objected to, the consideration of the report of a committee shall lie over 

one day. 50 

All reports of committees shall be printed, unless for the dispatch of busi¬ 
ness the printing be dipensed with. 55 

Reports of committees of conference shall always be in order, and when made the 
question of their consideration shall be immediately put and decided with¬ 
out debate. 49 

Reports of committees of conference on resolutions proposing amendments to the 

Constitution shall require a vote of two-thirds for their adoption. 35 

Resolutions. The order in which they shall be called for by the Chair in the 

morning hour. 8 

When accompanied by a preamble, the question shall be first put on the pre¬ 
amble, which may be withdrawn or laid on the table. 45 

A resolution may be withdrawn or modified by the mover before an amend¬ 
ment or ordering of the yeas and nays. 44 

A resolution to pay money out of the contingent fund shall be referred to 

the Committee on Contingent Expenses. 47 

♦ All resolutions shall, if their consideration be objected to, lie over one day.. 33 
Proposing amendments to the Constitution shall, in their introduction and 

form of proceeding, be treated in all respects like bills. 35 

Rules. No motion to suspend, modify, or amend any rule, except on one day’s 

notice, in writing.. 61 

Any rule may be suspended without notice by unanimous consent. 61 

But no motion shall be in order to suspend the eighteenth rule in respect to 
voting. 18, 61 

S. 

Secrecy. The galleries shall be closed and the doors cleared on the discussion of 

a question that may require. 64 

All confidential communications from the President, and all treaties and 

debates and proceedings thereon, shall be kept secret. 65 

All matters touching the character and qualifications of a nomination and 

all votes and proceedings thereon shall be kept secret. 73 

A Senator disclosing the confidential or secret business of the Senate shall 

be liable to expulsion. 68 

An officer of the Senate committing a like offense shall be dismissed and 

punished for a contempt. 68 

Special orders. The unfinished business shall take precedence of the. 9 

Any subject may be made a special order by a vote of two-thirds. 10 

Unless there be unfinished business, the Chair shall lay before the Senate 

the.. 

Special orders for the same hour and day shall have precedence according 

to the time at which they were made such. 11 

Special orders shall not lose their character as such unless by a vote of the 

Senate. H 

Every special order shall, unless there be unfinished business, be called up 

when the hour assigned shall arrive. 12 

Speak more than twice in any one debate on the same day without leave of the 

Senate. No Senator shall. 39 

Speak. The presiding officer shall name who is to speak, but the Senator first 

rising shall in all cases first.-. 38 

Suspension of the rules. One day’s notice in writing required to suspend, amend, 

or modify any rule of the Seuate... 61 

3 






























34 


INDEX. 


Number. 

Suspension of the rules. The eighteenth rule in relation to voting shall never, 

under any circumstances, he suspended .. 61 

T. 

Table. An amendment to a general appropriation hill may he laid on the. 29 

A motion to reconsider may be laid on the. 20 

And if carried shall be held to be a final disposition of the motion. 20 

An appeal from the decision of the Chair may be laid on the. 41 

If laid on the table it shall be held as affirming the decision of the Chair — 41 

All resolutions, reports of committees, motions to discharge a committee, 
and subjects from which a committee may be discharged, shall lie over one 
day for consideration. 33, 50 

Tie. When the Senate shall be equally divided the Vice-President by his vote 

shall determine the question..*. 19 

Treaties. When a treaty is laid before the Senate no motion shall be made in 

reference, to it but to refer or to print it... 69 

A treaty shall not be considered on the same day that it is reported, if ob¬ 
jected to. 69 

After being acted upon as in Committee of the Whole it shall be reported 

to the Senate. 69 

When the question will be, if amended, on concurring in the amendments 

made in Committee of the Whole. 69 

After which the resolution of ratification may be proposed on a subsequent 

day. 69 

When the question shall be on the resolution of ratification no amendment 

shall be in order. 69 

The question of ratification and a motion to postpone indefinitely shall each 

require a vote of two-thirds. 69 

All amendments and other motions may be decided by a majority. 69 

U. 

Unanimous consent. The reading of the journal may be suspended by... 1 

Until the business of the morning hour is concluded, no motion to proceed 

to any other subject shall be received, unless by. 8 

A question taken up in the morning hour shall not be extended beyond that 

hour, unless by. 8 

After a discussion is announced, a Senator may change or withdraw his 

vote by. 18 

When the Senate shall refuse to reconsider a vote, or re-affirm its first decis¬ 
ion, no motion to reconsider can be received, but by. 21 

Notice of a motion for leave to bring in a bill, may be dispensed with by... 22 

Each bill shall receive three readings before passage on three different days, 

unless by. 23 

A bill may be read twice for reference, but not considered as in Committee of 

the Whole, nor debated, unless by. 24 

No amendment shall be proposed to a bill on its third reading, unless by... 25 

All resolutions, reports of committees, motions to discharge a committee, 
and subjects from which a committee may be discharged, shall lie over 

one day, unless by. 50 

No rule of the Senate can be suspended without notice, unless by. 61 

Treaties shall not be acted upon on the day on which they are reported, un¬ 
less by. 69 

Resolution of ratification shall not be considered on the same day it is pro¬ 
posed, unless by.. 69 

Nominations shall not be confirmed on the day they are received, or on which 
reported, unless by. 72 






























INDEX. 


35 


Number. 

Unfinished business, which shall be the business upou which the Senate is en¬ 
gaged at its adjournment, shall be laid before the Senate at the expiration 

of the morning hour and have preference over the special orders. 9 

Unfinished business of a session. The legislative business of the Senate shall be 

continued from session to session of the same Congress. 59 

V. 

Vacancies in committees, when filled by the Presiding Officer, shall, unless other¬ 
wise ordered, be ouly to fill up the number on the committee. 46 

Vice-President. In the absence of the Vice-President, Senate shall choose a Presi¬ 
dent pro tempore . 4 

Senate equally divided, he shall give the casting vote. 19 

Voting. When the yeas and nays are called, each Senator shall, unless excused 

from voting, answer when his name is called without debate. . 16 

Proceedings, when a Senator shall be called on for reasons for declining to 

wote, shall be without debate. 17 

Shall not be had until after the result is announced.. 17 

A Senator shall not be permitted to vote after the result is announced. 18 

But he may, for special reasons, by unanimous consent, withdraw or change 

his vote. 18 

Vice-President may, in case of tie, give the casting vote. 19 

W. 

Withdrawal of a motion or resolution. A resolution or motion may be withdrawn 

at any time before amendment or ordering of the yeas and nays. 44 

Preamble to a resolution may be withdrawn before amendment or ordering 

of the yeas and nays. 45 

A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without leave of the Senate . 44 

Withdraxval of papers. No papers except original treaties shall be withdrawn from 

the files without leave of the Senate... 56 

Where an act has passed for a private claim, the papers may be sent by the 

Secretary to the accounting-officers. 56 

No petition on which an adverse report has been made shall be withdrawn 

without leaving copies. 57 

Claims adversely reported on shall not be again referred without new evi¬ 
dence . 58 

Without debate. In ascertaining the presence of a quorum, the proceedings shall 

be. 2 

Sergeant-at-Arms may be directed to request or compel attendance of ab- 

. sent Senators.,. 3 

A The reading a paper when objected to shall be decided. 15 

A motion to request House of Representatives to return a bill shall be de¬ 
cided at once, and. 20 

All questions of relevancy of amendments under rule 29 shall be decided... 29 

A motion to permit a Senator to proceed in order shall be decided. 36 

A motion for leave to speak more than twice in one debate shall be decided. 39 

All questions of order shall be decided by the Chair. 40 

Subsequent questions of order and appeals and questions of order on unde- 

batable propositions shall be decided. 41 

Motions to adjourn, for a recess, for executive business, and to lay on the 

table, shall be decided. 43 

A motion to proceed to consideration of a conference report shall be decided. 49 
Each Senator when the ayes and nays are called shall, when his name is 

called, answer. 16 

Reasons for excusing a Senator from voting shall be determined. 17 





























36 


INDEX. 


Number. 


Women’s Hospital and Lying-in Asylum. The President of the Senate to appoint 

one Senator a director of the. 

Words spoken in debate, if required, shall be taken down in writing. Exceptiona¬ 
ble . 37 

4 

Y. 

Yeas and nays. Each Senator shall, when his name is called, answer openly and 

without debate. 16 

A Senator may be required to assign reasons for not voting, which shall be 

without debate. 17 

He shall not be called on for reasons for not voting until result of the vote is 

announced. 17 

Other proceedings shall be after such announcement. 17 

A Senator shall not be permitted to vote after the result is announced. 18 

For special reasons, by unanimous consent, he may withdraw or change hi^ 

vote. 18 

Vice-President may, in case of tie, give the casting vote. 19 












t 












































